NV Krug Grande Cuvée

...really delightful showing after it opened up (an hour or so). Beautiful saline finish wrapped around gorgeous fruit. 

NV Cruse Tradition Sparkling Wine

 

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. No dosage. Disgorgement date not listed. Cool label! Must be a story behind it.

I drink very few domestic sparklers. This benefits significantly from aeration and settles into an interesting wine. 

The challenge here is that for about $18 more, you can get into a Guiborat Prisme 15 Grand Cru BdB that will rock your world. 

NV Araujo Estate Grappa

 Produced from Cabernet Sauvignon must. Stone fruit with hints of pepper on the finish. Small sips are delightful (it ain't wine!)...

A real treat! 👍

Holiday Noshes 2021

 Coming up with some variations on traditional noshes and bites for the holdays...

        🎄Ham Raclette⛄

Our local bakery makes delicious onion rolls, so...
- Slice fresh baked onion roll in half and toast each half in the oven with Raclette cheese melted on top 
- Fry up slices of glazed holiday ham in an iron skillet using light amount of Lake Garda DOP EVOO until glaze on the edges of the ham slices just begins to caramelize
- Top the Raclette onion roll with the fried ham
- Garnish with red grapes on the side

Pair with a 2015 Kelley Fox Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard and a 2015 Tiberio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Fonte Canale

Yum!

 

Egly-Ouriet and Max Ferd. Richter - Christmas Eve, 2021

 2009 Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru Millésime

Something like 8.5 years on the lees. Don't recall the dosage. Disgorged in March 2018. 70% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay, I think.

Depth of character/vinosity is riveting. Don't drink too cold. There is nothing quite like Egly's wines that spend a lot of time on the lees. Just marvelous. Paired with Balanzoni,  caramelized onion,  pistachio, & wild boar fennel sausage.

Comparing 2009 vintage champagne, I slightly prefer the 2009 Jacquesson Ay-Vauzelle Terme (100% pinot noir) for its clarity & refinement, and the 2009 Jaquesson Avize-Champ Caïn (100% Chardonnay) for its incredible freshness.



2015 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese AP 11

Incredibly delicious pineapple palate supported by rapturously savory framework and beautiful balanced acidity. This is in a really nice window right now. Impossible to stop drinking once you get started.

I am very fond of what Oliver Haag does with the slice of Mosel heaven designated Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr. This is a superb introduction to Constantin Richter's interpretation of the hallowed terroir.



Wishing all a Merry Christmas! Here is a beautiful bit of poetry by John Russell "Hondo" Crouch, the Mayor of Luckenbach Texas, recited on the front porch of the General Store, just before his in passing in the mid-1970's... (accompanied by Jerry Jeff Walker on acoustic guitar)...

https://youtu.be/qS-q2ZfsI-o

NV Francoise Bedel Extra Brut Entre Ciel et Terre

 

Disgorged March 2018

60 months on the lees

12% abv

50% pinot noir, 35% pinot meunier, 15% chardonnay

Dosage not listed on label

First time trying this producer based on recommendation from Donald Pennet.

Bedel is recognized for her pinot meunier, which is sourced from vineyards in the western reaches of the Marne Valley near the village of Charly-sur-Marne.

Let this wine open up and it will reveal intriguing complexity as it warms in the glass. Very shy nose, but has a lovely saline citrus character up front on the palate with sous bois accent and hints of nuttiness on the finish.

Paired deliciously with fried chicken.

2006 Saddleback Nils 25th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon

 

Cacao-inflected black cherry palate with a medium finish. Pleasant, but not showing a lot of complexity....  tannins not that elegant...Paired ok with beef stew.

 

2009 Jacquesson Extra Brut Dizy - Corne Bautray

Rounding out my tour of the Jaquesson single vineyard bottlings, the 2009 Dizy - Corne Bautray is 100% Chardonnay. 

Very enjoyable but not as refined as the 2009 Ay - Vauzelle Terme (100% Pinot Noir) and the 2009 Avize - Champ Cain (100% Chardonnay).  

Thanks to Donald Pennet for recommending the Jacquesson cru wines. 

Definitely more than I typically spend on Champagne, but well worth exploring what Freres Chiquet are doing...👍🍾

2018 Fedellos do Couto Bastarda

 Tasting this Ganevat- inspired, mostly Trousseau wine from Ribeira Sacra is a treat! It's still on the young side with the high toned cranberry palate complemented by brilliant aromatics. Nice length on the finish. Worth a rebuy.

2010 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Enrico VI

 

Showed beautifully despite being on the young side. Have always enjoyed Alberto's expression of the Villero Cru.  Elegant balance... with at least another decade of prime time ahead. Would like to try in 10 years to get into tertiary character...

2014 Clos de la Tech Pinot Noir Domaine Valeta Sunny Slope (Santa Cruz Mtns)

 First time trying this producer. Well crafted Santa Cruz Mountains pinot noir.. Not the most complex palate, but the quality of the fruit makes it delicious,  and it exhibits nice balance. 

2009 Jacquesson Extra Brut Avize-Champ Caïn

 Beautifully seductive nose and a bit more fruit forward enticement compared to the 2009 Vauzelle Terme. 

Paired deliciously with mussels in a delicious broth and whole grilled Branzino...

Superb wine....Bravo!

100% Chardonnay from grand cru vineyards in Avize (Côte des Blancs)...

Jacquesson is one of Champagne’s most venerable houses, not only predating Krug, but giving birth to it, when in 1843 Johann-Joseph Krug left Jacquesson to form his own house. But despite more than 200 years of history, Jacquesson has become a revolutionary among Champagne’s established houses, under the leadership of brothers Laurent and Jean-Hervé Chiquet, who took over from their father in the 1980’s. Since then, the house has adopted a herbicide-free, terroir-based philosophy. It also retired, after 150 years, its non-vintage blend and replaced it with a groundbreaking single-vintage-based cuvée, which changes yearly. And next came its terroir-based cuvées, an unprecedented move for a traditional house.

1987 Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Privée MEC

 

Special thanks to Dr. Jim Wheatley for sharing two jeroboams of this rare champagne at our Cru Holiday gathering!

Producer notes: The Charles Heidsieck Cellars are a Unesco World Heritage site and comprise more than eight kilometres of chalk tunnels interlinking forty seven subterranean cathedrals called Crayères, reaching 30 metres high and believed to have been dug out in the 3rd century.

Jeroboam's are fantastic, the ageing slows right down, this large bottle of NV or as Charles call them "mis en cave" part of Charles Heidsieck Collection Crayeres, a second late release of vintages direct from their cellars in Reims in November 2020. The releases are very limited quantities & a perfect chance to buy & enjoy champagne with age in its very best condition. This is the fourth time of an annual “Collection Crayeres” release & honours five of the oldest vintage & non-vintages & showcases their exceptional capacity for withstanding time, their incredible aromatic opulence capacity & their structure after several decades of cellaring.

Mis En Cave is a name for the concept of NV the “Charles way” whereby the Champagne is 'laid in cellar' in the spring after the harvest. Charles Heidsieck have released several bottles Mis En Cave 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2008 Each of these bottles contains the non-vintage wine with the base vintage of the year before. Mis en Cave 1987 is the same as saying it is a NV from the dominant vintage 1986!

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru
Grape Varieties: 46% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay, 16% Meunier
Mis En Cave: 1987 or NV based on 1986
Disgorged: 2020
Lees ageing: 33 years!
Drink: Now to 2040+

Just 87 Jeroboams exist!

Producer Tasting Note: Golden with green glints. Strong toasty smokey notes combining with candied ginger and roasted peanuts with an amazing spread of fruits, loads of tropical like pineapple and dried apricots. Amazingly fresh and structured palate, there is no hurry with these Jeroboams, they have decades of life ahead.

2009 Jacquesson Extra Brut Ay - Vauzelle Terme

 Enjoyed this paired with mussels in an incredibly delicious broth. 

Wow! A stunning wine. Thank you to Donald Pennet for the recommendation 👍🍾

One of my favorite champagnes from the past few years. 100% Pinot Noir from grand cru vineyards in Aÿ (Vallée de la Marne)

Happy 42nd anniversary to Cindi and Brett! 😊

NV Bodegas Mayador Sidra Asturiana Limited Production

 Delicious Asturian Sidra... brings back memories of hanging in the bars in San Sebastián and enjoying pintxos.. 

Pouring cider

https://youtu.be/m6CCLB7dOJU

Eating and drinking in Basque country

https://youtu.be/2Oe-oNRZ6gw

2011 Brovia Barolo Rocche di Castiglione and 2006 Giovanni Sordo Barolo Rocche di Castiglione Riserva

 

Two delicious Rocche's .... paired with an incredible rigatoni Boscaiola...

2018 Manuel Moldes Albariño A Capela De Aios

 Manuel Moldes (winemaker at Fulcro) started this project bottling under his own label in 2017. The A Capela de Aios cuvee is named for the small church in the town where the vineyards are located. Some of the vines are over 80 years old and are planted on schist, which is rare in this granite dominated region.  Grapes are hand harvested and basket pressed. Juice is fermented in neutral French oak, without temperature control, and is aged for an additional 11 months in the same barrels.

The result is an intensely mineral citrus palate framed by mouthwatering salinity.  Reminiscent of a lovely chablis, yet providing a profound expression of Albariño from Rías Baixas.

Paired deliciously with sauteed scallops.
 

In the Val do Salnés region of Rias Baixas, vines are traditionally trained on a wire trellis supported by granite posts called “parra,” which allow breezes to come through and dry the grapes after the region’s frequent showers. (Similar to the rock supported pergola system in the Carema region of Italy).

NV Guiborat Prisme 15 Extra Brut Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

One of the more satisfying and complete Blanc de Blancs I've enjoyed recently. Gorgeous nose of florals with hints of biscuit. First taste shows the quality of the fruit and elegant balance of acidity. On the young side now but irresistible. Excellent QPR.

Richard and Karine Fouquet source their grapes from domaine-owned parcels in the Le Mont Aigu lieu-dit (Chouilly) and in Cramant. Parcels are vinified separately in tank.

Paired deliciously with Vongole (clams in a sweet Italian sausage broth) prepared by Chef Luca Annunziata of Forchetta restaurant and inspired by his childhood in Naples, Italy.

Disgorgement Oct 2020
12.6% abv
1.5 g/l dosage

2007 Camus Pere et Fils Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

A producer I have no previous experience with.  This bottle showed extremely well. Drank over the course of several hours. Palate continued to gain strength and show multiple layers of fruit with a really tasty long finish.  Overall, it's more about the attractiveness of the aged fruit, and not so much about acidity. There is a subtle underlying minerality to compliment the cherry, sous bois and spices. Sticking your nose in the glass and inhaling the Burgundian scents was a treat. Paired with tempura shrimp and bone in pork chop. 

2014 Marguet Ambonnay Grand Cru Les Saints Rémys

100% pinot noir
Disgorged Sept 2019
Zero dosage

First time enjoying a wine from Benoît Marguet. It is lovely and impossible to put down once you get started drinking it. Produced from a parcel of old-vine Pinot Noir on the Bouzy side of Ambonnay. Racy acidity frames beautiful grand cru fruit. In an early drinking window with lots of air. I think this will be going even stronger in five years.

Paired with:

Tapas
Jámon + Manchego Croquetas
Grilled Chorizo + Figs in a balsamic reduction

Main
Wood fire grilled whole Branzino with rosemary + acorn squash + crispy potatoes 

Dessert 
Absolutely mind blowing olive oil cake sprinkled with sea salt, warm out of the oven...

2014 Laherte Freres Empreintes Millesime

 The best cuvee I've had from this producer. Opened up nicely over a couple of hours. Wonderful balance with mouthwatering salinity & food friendly acidity. Scrumptious, elegant fruit. ** Definitely worth buying more.** There is a very alluring freshness to this wine. 

Paired well with bacon wrapped shrimp seasoned with paprika. 

Cru tasting, Oct 2021

Tasting with wine group... the bubbly from Alta Langa exceeded expectations...great stuff.

Sparkling
2016 Enrico Serafino Alta Langa Metodo Classico Oudeis Brut
85% Pinot Nero, 15% Chardonnay

Rosé
2017 Dominio del Águila Pícaro del Águila Clarete (Ribera del Duero)
35% Tempranillo, 35% Albillo Mayor and the rest a mixture of many different varieties (Garnacha, Bobal, Bruñal, Monastrell, Tempranillo Gris, other Albillos, Garnacha Blanca, Pirules, Jaén, Moscatel, Malvasías...)
 
----------------------------------------

Reds

2010 Calabretta Nerello Mascalese Vigne Vecchie (Mt. Etna, Sicily)

100% old vine Nerello Mascalese

2017 Ariana Occhipinti SP68 (Fossa di Lupo,
southern Sicily)
70% Frappato  30% Nero d'Avola

Tied for favorite

2008 Pian dell'Orino Brunello di Montalcino
100% Sangiovese

2nd favorite

2011 Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione
(Greve, Chianti)
100% Sangiovese

2011 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere
100% Nebbiolo

(Monforte d'Alba)

Tied for favorite

2010 Quintarelli Cá del Merlo (Valpolicella, Veneto)
55% Corvina/Corvinone, 30% Rondinella, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, Croatina, Sangiovese

-----------------------------

Postscript 
A week or so later, finished up a couple of ounces each of leftovers from:

2011 Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione 
wow! This wine has a beautiful future ahead. Indications of delicious tertiary development. An irresistible element of allspice (even leaning toward light cinnamon) underlies extended red and blue fruit finish. This is one of my favorite wines from Chianti region.

2011 Fratelli Alessandria Barolo Gramolere 
...hint of initial heat has subsided with gorgeously elegant black fruit taking front and center. Bonus is the wonderfully balanced inner sweetness on the palate. A Barolo for Burgundy lovers. 

2007 Cantine Lonardo Taurasi Riserva Coste

 Needs a couple of hours to open up. Still quite early in its evolution.  There's at least another 10 or 15 years on the horizon for this one.

The quality of the Aglianico fruit reminds me of Guastaferro. The vines may not generate the same depth of fruit as Guastaferro's 150 year old vines, but the quality is there. Lots of super fine-grained sediment supports the delicious black fruit. Coffee/mocha accents with hints of Taurasian garrigue on a lengthy, complex finish.
Paired deliciously with scratch made bucatini, sausage, sweet peas, mushrooms and broccoli in a light cream sauce.

Old vines on Lonardo estate...

 

2004 Renato Corino Barolo Arborina

 

2nd of two bottles acquired from a reliable source. Have always been a fan of Arborina cru. ...typifies lovely Barolo from the La Morra area.
This 2nd bottle showed the best of the two. Spot on from the get-go. Decanted and enjoyed gorgeous perfume as the wine opened up.  Beautiful red fruit with most delicious dusty tannins adding a sweetness to the classic finish that goes on and on. Showcases the elegance of the sought after vintage. 

 

2005 Chapoutier St. Joseph Les Granits (magnum)

 The last and best of three magnums we've enjoyed over the past ten years. Best enjoyed from a decanter to allow it to open up. Filigreed tannins provide the framework for scrumptious black fruit.  Dusty minerality with hints of olive. Alluring lilac accents on nose of fruit compote. A testament to the greatness of the vintage. Couldn't ask for a better showing.

 

A few recent wines...

 

2010 Clos du Mont-Olivet La Cuvee du Papet... delicious and in the zone... as close in style as Ive found to Pegau Reservee...

2007 Paolo Conterno Ginestra Riserva......
Approachable now with a couple of hours in a decanter. Beautiful fruit and structure.... pliable tannins just starting to show hints of sweetness.. a classical interpretation of Ginestra. Better in 3 to 5 years...

2018 Quintarelli Bianco Secco Cá del Merlo ...
Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Sauvignon Bianco, Chardonnay, Saorin....30 year old vines on limestone and basalt... I LOVE this wine.

Laherte Freres Les 7 Extra Brut

 Delicious stuff...

Producer notes:

"....The Laherte estate was founded in 1889 by Jean-Baptiste Laherte. At this time, most of the five hectares of vines were situated in the village of Chavost. Today, the 10-hectare vineyard is run by the two Laherte brothers Christian and Thierry, as well as Thierry’s son, Aurélien. Les 7 – A single parcel planted on the slopes of Chavot in 2003 by Aurelien’s father Thierry Laherte as a nod to ancient traditions. Worked with a horse. Blend of the seven indigenous grape varieties of the region including 18% Chardonnay, 18% Meunier, 17% Pinot blanc, 15% Petit Meslier, 14% Pinot Noir, 10% Fromonteau (Pinot gris), and 8% Arbane. Six months of aging with regular lees stirring, no malo, blend of 60% of current vintage and 40% of a solera combining each vintage since the start in 2005. Dosage is 4 gr/l...."